Amendment #39 to H3768

Minority and Women Owned Businesses Inclusion

Mr. Holmes of Boston moves to amend the bill in SECTION 1 by adding the following 3 definitions to section 2 of chapter 10A of the General Laws:-

“'Minority', a person with a permanent residence in the United States who is American Indian, Black, Cape Verdean, Western Hemisphere Hispanic, Aleut, Eskimo, or Asian.

'Minority-owned business', a business which is beneficially owned by 1 or more minority persons as follows:(i) the business must be at least 51 per cent owned by minority persons; in the case of a corporation having more than 1 class of stockholders, the ownership requirement must be met as to each class of stock; (ii) the minority owners shall demonstrate that they have dominant control over management; (iii) the business has not been established solely for the purpose of taking advantage of a special program which has been developed to assist minority businesses.

'Women-owned business', any business which is beneficially owned by 1 or more women meeting the requirements in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive, of the definition of minority business; provided, however, that the terms 'women', 'women owners', and 'women-owned business', shall be substituted for the terms 'minority' and 'minority persons', 'minority owners', and 'minority business' appearing in the definition.”;

and in SECTION 1 by inserting after clause (9) in section 4 of chapter 10A of the General Laws the following clause:-

“(9A) ensure that prospective licensees prepare and submit plans to meet or exceed diversity goals of 15 per cent minority representation among licensees and licensed cannabis establishment management teams and 15 per cent women among licensees and licensed cannabis establishment management teams.  Said goals shall also extend to licensed cannabis establishment suppliers and service providers.”;

and in SECTION 1, by adding the following sentence to the second paragraph of section 28 of chapter 10A of the General Laws:- “And provided that not less than 1 per cent of the fund shall be expended annually to provide cannabis industry specific technical assistance and mentoring in communities disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.”